12 Travel Tips You Need to Know Before Your Next Vacation

Who better to get travel advice from other than known jet-setters designer Michael Kors and model Lily Aldridge? I spoke to the two of them during the launch of Michael's latest fragrance Wonderlust (out now!), which Lily's the face of, and this is what they had to say about all things travel.

1. Get lost. "I always try to choose a location for vacation where you feel like you can get lost," Kors said. "That way, you have the ability to be away from everyone and everything, which really allows you to get in touch with who you're with."

2. You don't always have to leave the place you're in to be on a romantic getaway. "For me, a romantic getaway is anywhere warm where you can be outside at night surrounded by lit candles," Aldridge told me. "One of the most romantic places like that for me is Tennessee."

3. Get out of your comfort zone. "One of the most adventurous things I've ever done was get out of the truck on safari in South Africa [when the guide told us we could]," Kors said. "There I was in the middle of an entire heard of rhinos, and I was petrified. The guide kept saying, 'Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, don't be afraid,' but it was hard not to be. The adrenaline rush of an experience like that is something remarkable and to be that close to wildlife is just so unbelievable."

4. If you can't get away, you can still escape close to home. "I have a few ways you can do this," Kors told me:

"You can always travel on your phone by following people on Instagram — there are a lot of great adventurers on this planet, from models to designers to actresses who are constantly on the go and are really good reporters of these kinds of places."

"Look up! I'm always amazed, even in New York where I've lived my entire life, by what I can notice just by looking up as I'm walking down a street I've been down a thousand times. Even if you're in your hometown, you can discover something new and different."

"See live theater. There you have to be present, you have to be there at a set time, and you're being taken on a journey. You're taking yourself out of your everyday reality and into another. So sometimes when I'm crazed at work, and there is certainly no time for a vacation, I'll take 2 1/2 hours at the theater and end up feeling so refreshed."

A post shared by Hamilton (@hamiltonmusical) on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:40am PDT

"Wear a scent that transports you to a place that reminds you of vacation — for me, that's something with jasmine and frangiapani."

Aldridge agrees with Kors's last point. "This Wonderlust fragrance, for me, is tied to a strong scent memory of being on the amazing shoot in Antigua," she said. "These incredible butterflies just showed up out of nowhere and surrounded us, and I was convinced that Michael had somehow purchased thousands of butterflies and sent them our way. It was just so unbelievable and something I'd never seen in my entire life, so that entire experience brings such a feeling of joy — and instantly takes me back to that time — when I wear the scent."

5. Keep an open mind and go with the flow. Both Kors and Aldridge live by this motto when traveling. "A lot of people are freaked out when they're on a long-haul flight, but those are the instances where you can see the movie you've been meaning to see or read that stack of magazines you've been meaning to read," Kors said. "It's good to just be grateful that you have the ability to go outside of your usual reality."

"I always think it's good not to be set in your ways on vacation, be open," Aldridge adds. "I don't like it when people shy away from trying new foods on vacation just because they may have never had it before. So I think being open to the culture and the things it has to offer you are really important."

6. Travel with a few basic things from the drugstore to remedy possible ailments. "I have everything for every possible ailment," Kors told me. "You never know what's going to happen. I have probably more drugstore remedies than I have clothes with me on most trips!"

7. Pack things that won't wrinkle. "Regardless of where I'm going, I always pack basics — whether they're T-shirts or knits — and I always make sure they're items that where I don't have to worry about a wrinkle," Kors said.

8. Pack things you can wear more than one way. "I never pack anything that I can't wear more than one way. I think it's a waste," Kors adds. Plus this also leaves you with a ton of extra space for shoes, so win-win! For example, take a page out of DJ (and new dress designer!) Harley Viera-Newton's book and wear your bikini top as an actual top:

9. Only buy souvenirs on vacation that fit into your life at home. "Unless whatever you're buying is inexpensive; otherwise, resist the temptation," Kors suggests. "I wear mostly black, white, gray, and navy, but when I was in Capri years back, everyone there was wearing loads of color. So I was like, 'Sign me up!' and bought all of these crazy-colored sweaters and shirts, which worked there. But when I got home, I was like, 'What am I doing with all of this color?' So find something that reminds you of the location but also fits into your life seamlessly — and that you'll wear again and again."

10. Research things to do before you get to your destination, but leave some open space for spontaneity. "I like to have an idea of what I want to do when I travel, so I research the best options before I go away," Aldridge said." But I also try not to make too many plans, since you never know what a city or place has to offer until you're there. So I try to have a loose plan, yet go with the flow on vacation."

11. Always travel with a pair of sunglasses. Kors told me that the only way he feels like a human being after a long flight is if he's wearing sunglasses. And on #NationalSunglassDay, this tip couldn't be more fitting. His favorite: A pair of black aviators from his eponymous line.

12. Invest in a sturdy suitcase and pack smartly. "I try to get as much as I can in my carry-on and I've learned that rolling your clothes gives you so much more space in your luggage," Aldridge told me. "I was actually doing research online for the best carry-on and I ended up watching this amazing woman on YouTube packing her suitcase. She packed so much into this bag — I couldn't even believe it. She rolled all of her clothing to save space and minimize wrinkles, and how she placed her things like a puzzle was genius. My mind was so blown at the end of the video, I ended up buying the suitcase, which was a Tumi carry-on, and was able to pack so much stuff for this trip because of her!" Check out the video below!

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